A superbly taken second-half goal from Marco Di Vaio gave Italy a 1-0 win over Romania in an international friendly on Sunday.

The Italians fielded a weakened side but had the better chances and deserved to win a low-key game that coach Giovanni Trapattoni used to take a look at some fringe players.

The closest Romania came to scoring was an 89th-minute free kick from Adrian Mutu that keeper Christian Abbiati pushed wide.

After Italy lost a friendly 3-1 in Poland on Wednesday, Trapattoni was pleased with the way his makeshift team, without top players such as Christian Vieri and Alessandro Nesta, bounced back with a win.

"We created some good chances and played well, especially after the break. They didn't really create many opportunities -- congratulations to the whole team," Trapattoni said.

Romania, who unlike the Italians have not qualified for the finals of the European Championship next year, were also under-strength and posed few problems for Trapattoni's defence in a game played in front of just 11,700 spectators.

Francesco Totti might have done better in the ninth minute when he tried to beat Romania keeper Bogdan Lobont at the near post and Lobont was in action again soon after, doing well to keep out a sharp effort from Fabio Bazzani.

Totti playing alongside his Roma strike partner Antonio Cassano for the first time for Italy, was again the creative force for the Azzurri and frequently looked for his younger team mate but the partnership did not live up to expectations.

Romania's only effort of note in the opening 45 minutes came when Daniel Pancu fired a volley just wide as he swooped on a clearance on the edge of the area.

DECISIVE BREAKTHROUGH

Cassano went close with a long-range effort just before the break but it was Juventus forward Di Vaio, so prolific as a substitute, who made the decisive breakthrough.

Totti lofted a ball over the defence and Di Vaio struck a crisp first time shot to beat Lobont in the 58th minute.

Di Vaio then forced a save out of Lobont after good work from another of the multiple substitutes Simone Inzaghi, and Andrea Pirlo should have done better when he shot weakly from close range after another Inzaghi set up.

Mutu's nastily bouncing free-kick troubled Abbiati near the end but Trapattoni was left to reflect on the performances of those given a rare chance in the side such as young Parma defender Matteo Ferrari.

"I think Cassano did some excellent things, Di Vaio gives us an extra physical presence and Ferrari is developing very well. We created six good chances and deserved the win," he said.